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The Debate
The Debate is our home for the best opinions from around Asia. Whether it is negotiating with Iran, responding to North Korean provocations, discussing Japan's looming demographic issues, or considering the new balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, some of the region's leading thinkers offer their take.
A Difficult Trajectory Ahead for US-China Military-to-Military Ties
By Ankit Panda
Mattis' first trip to China did little to soothe growing military-to-military tensions in the relationship.
One Year After Mother Mushroom’s Imprisonment, Signs of Hope in Vietnam
By Prachi Vidwans and Joy Park
Despite rising repression, the democratic awakening of the Vietnamese people continues.
Never Again? Europe’s False Human Rights Promise
By Mirwais Wakil
Forcing Afghanistan to take back people seeking asylum in EU territory is little short of complicity toward the slaughter of innocents.
Why Australia Needs to Reconcile With Its Role in the Vietnam War
By Sayeed Ahmed
With reconciliation, Australia will be in a much stronger position to achieve its stated foreign policy objectives.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Harmony or Discord?
By Jaloliddin Usmanov
The SCO is not a platform for harmony or discord per se, rather it is what the members make of it.
China’s Peaceful Modernization Does Not Mean Westernization
By Jin Kai
What U.S. officials get wrong about China's rise.
China’s Second Century of Humiliation
By Ted S. Yoho
The conduct of Xi Jinping and the CCP will ultimately bring China a new century of shame.
An Afternoon in Almaty and Justice in Kazakhstan
By Jared Genser
Iskander Yerimbetov’s counsel recounts his client’s latest court hearing.
Toward a New Maritime Strategy in the South China Sea
By Patrick M. Cronin and Melodie Ha
How the US can reformulate its approach to China in the maritime domain.
Why Pakistan Needs a Democratic Revolution
By Touqir Hussain
The country needs much more than just another round of elections to address its manifold challenges.
Why the 'Comfort Women' Issue Still Matters, 70 Years Later
By Hiroka Shoji
The refusal to adequately address past atrocities permeates how women are viewed in Japanese society today.
Steering North Korea to Become a Normal Country
By Jongsoo Lee
With the Singapore summit, Kim Jong Un has effectively declared the end of North Korea’s era of diplomatic isolation.